Outlander
Season 4, Episode 4 sees Roger deliver exciting news to Brianna. Meanwhile, Jamie, Claire, and Young Ian attempt to build Fraser’s Ridge.
It’s never easy starting anew. Claire and Jamie have learned that in the past and in Outlander Season 4, Episode 4, they learn it again. This time Young Ian learns it with them, as they start the Fraser’s Ridge settlement.
Meanwhile, Brianna learns news about her mother. What exactly is it and what does that news lead to her doing? It’s time to delve into the episode.
As usual, there are spoilers in this. Because the episode was split between the two time periods, I’m also going to split this into two, starting with Brianna and Roger’s shorter tale.
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Roger delivers good news to Brianna
The last we saw of Roger and Brianna, they’d split up. A jump to 1971 shows us they haven’t reconciled yet. In fact, they haven’t spoken since that fateful night. That all changes when Roger has news for Brianna.
While reading the books Brianna got him about the Scottish settlers in the Colonies, he comes across a line about Fraser’s Ridge. Of course, the name means the world to him, so he decides to get in touch with the author to learn more about the Ridge. Sure enough, he gets the deed that Jamie signed and proof that Claire found her soulmate.
Ringing Brianna, he delivers the good news. And it’s just the news she needed to hear. However, that doesn’t change things between them and they don’t quite make up over the phone.
Fiona knows the truth
Back in Inverness to pick up the last of his boxes that Fiona has stored for him, the topic of Brianna comes up. It turns out that Fiona has know all along that Claire took a trip through the stones. She’s not surprised about it nor is she upset that anyone kept it from her. The sweet soul knows that it was never any of her business.
She does have some important news for Roger, though. She’d come across information her grandmother, Mrs. Graham, had found while helping Reverend Wakefield with his research. There’s an obituary for Jamie and Claire, showing they died in a fire on Fraser’s Ridge. The year is smudged, but it happens sometime in the next 12 years.
Will Roger tell Brianna? He’s not sure but it’s a moot point. When Roger does call Brianna, he learns from her roommate Gale that Brianna has returned to Scotland to see her mother. Gale doesn’t know what that means, but Roger certainly does.
Finding settlers for Fraser’s Ridge
Back in the 18th century, Claire and Jamie get their land. There’s a discussion between Jamie and Governor Tryon about being careful who to accept on the Ridge, while Jamie signs the deed to the land.
Meanwhile, Claire sees Marsali, who has certainly popped with the baby. There’s a touching moment between them, as Marsali admits that she misses her mom and would like her to be by her side right now. Claire understands that feeling and actually has some good words to say about Laoghaire. That conversation is quickly brought to an end with Jamie, Young Ian, and Fergus walking into the scene discussing the settlers. Jamie wants other Scots and wants Fergus to look out for people from Ardsmuir Prison. Any foreshadowing for Murtagh here?
With Fergus and Marsali remaining in Wilmington for now, the Frasers and Young Ian head to their new land. As they mark the boundary, they’re interrupted by the Cherokee, who aren’t happy that people are taking over their land. Soon enough, the Cherokee return the boundary posts making it clear that they will attack should the Frasers remain.
If that wasn’t enough, there’s also a bear in the woods. John Quincy Myers suggests that they stop building their home for now, but he will try to make peace with the Cherokees on the Frasers’ behalf. That doesn’t go to plan when JQM is attacked by the bear. Claire attends to him, while Jamie heads out in search for the animal.
Jamie becomes the Bear Killer
In an adaptation to the book storyline, Jamie comes across the bear only to learn that it wasn’t a bear after all. It’s a man dressed as a bear, with what looks like arrowheads for claws. He’s deadly, nonetheless, and it’s kill or be killed for Jamie. Fortunately, he isn’t afraid to defend his life when he needs to.
Knowing the Cherokee also often talked of this bear, Jamie delivers the dead man to the Cherokee home. It turns out the Cherokee knew the bear was a man. He was a former Cherokee tribe member who had been kicked out for forcing his wife to lay with him. That isn’t their way.
Killing the man/bear has just been what Jamie needed to find common ground with the tribe. Jamie becomes Bear Killer to the tribe and they are all able to live in peace. At least, for now.
In the end, Claire meets with two women, one of whom, Adawehi, played by Tantoo Cardinal. Adawehi explains that Claire has a gift for healing. As her hair grows whiter, Claire will gain more wisdom and power. However, she also shares that Claire isn’t to blame for sickness and death that is to come. Clearly foreshadowing and I know that this is direct from the book.
What did you think of Outlander Season 4, Episode 4? Did you enjoy the change to the Bear Killer scene? What will Roger do next? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Outlander airs Sundays on STARZ.